Ontario's Health Care System
My exciting new priority didn't get much attention yesterday as my children were home from school sick, and I experienced an unnatural and almost forgotten urge to feed my blog. And now, here I am again: blogging. But at least this does have a little something to do with my new priority. More information later.
This video is almost cruelly manipulative, but it makes an important point about the strange priorities of our political class. It's called 'Two Women'. I won't say any more about it; but watch it -- especially if you will be voting in the upcoming Ontario election. And tell your friends.
I want to make it clear that I have nothing against Susan, the second of the two women. From her point of view, she needed something, lobbied to get it, and was successful. But the politicians -- if they are going to manage all our health care needs -- have to be effective in making in choices in how to use the limited resources available to meet those needs. And this short film makes it clear that they are not effective.
The resources will always be limited for health care. There will always be some form of rationing. But can it ever be done in a fair way?
Comments
I cant believe this! In America Im taught to idolize the Canadian Medicare System. Im glad I saw this and now know that socialized health care isnt perfect...
Posted by: Jessica | October 2, 2007 04:49 PM
No. There are only two ways to ration resources: price or quantity. Ontario rations by quantity where the govt pays for a fixed supply of doctors to provide a fixed supply of surgeries to a demand that is unlimited by cost in most instances.
Unless you set a cost for the medical service being provided, the public will always demand a limitless supply of care. Only when you set a price, can the quantity provided adjust as per the market for goods like food, housing, clothing, computers, etc. It's called the law of scarcity.
Posted by: Ace | October 10, 2007 06:24 PM